If you want to get your hands on the new Nintendo Switch 2 soon, and without missing a rent or mortgage payment in the process, Nintendo analysts have some disappointing predictions.
The Nintendo console has been sold out at many retailers across the US since it launched, with some gamers paying inflated prices of up to $849 on the secondhand market to get one shortly after launch. It currently retails at $450—well above the $300 its predecessor sold for in 2017 when it debuted.
But new changes to Trump administration tariffs may exacerbate this issue, according to Nikkei Asia, Japan’s most popular business newspaper.
Nikkei points out that Nintendo’s earnings forecast for the year ending March 2026 was calculated on the basis that American tariffs on imports from Vietnam and Cambodia, where the Switch is made, will be 10%.
The newspaper refers to an investor conference Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa held in May, where he said: “If the situation regarding tariffs changes, we will consider adjusting prices.” However, President Trump said that his administration reached an agreement with manufacturing hub Vietnam earlier this week, resulting in tariffs of 20% on goods from the Southeast Asian nation—higher than Nintendo’s estimates.
But it’s not just tariffs that could keep prices high; one analyst also pointed to demand issues. Toyo Securities senior analyst Hideki Yasuda said the Switch is “overwhelmingly popular compared to past game consoles, and consoles that have a strong initial response tend to continue to have high demand.”
The console smashed records for the fastest-selling console in history earlier this month, after shifting 3.5 million units in its first three days, despite some issues with its screen and battery coming to light.
Yasuda thinks it could be hard to find a Switch until at least 2026, particularly in markets like Japan.
Nikkei also pointed to other Trump administration risks that could impact Nintendo’s production costs. It notes how the gaming giant’s stock saw a pronounced fall earlier this week after President Trump shot down the idea of a trade deal with Japan (though nothing was officially confirmed.)
Get Our Best Stories!
Your Daily Dose of Our Top Tech News
By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!
Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!
About Will McCurdy
Contributor
